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Subject: It is some of the thinking that is obsolete!
Posted By: Ford Davis
Date: February 15, 1999 at 00:44:41

In reading some of the different discussions, there is a repeated a concern that the computers bought today will be obsolete in a couple of years.

As I am heading a recycling program, putting 386 and 486 computers to good use, it is a mistaken belief. The written word has progressed from hand-written to typeset to the very books you are looking at upgrading to electronic forms. All these forms are useful still today. We still use hand written pages as well as typeset books without pictures. The rage may be colored glossy textbooks, but they can never replace the words of Shakespeare or the feeling of a hand written personal note.

The modern computer rapidly developed to the graphical interface of today and that will not change so radically, no matter where the high speed processors go. The so called 'Obsolete 486' computers can surf the net and compete very well given a high speed modem and more memory, and at a very low cost. Even the 'Y2K' problem is not a big deal as long as you are willing to set the date and time in the new millenium once! How many servers on the net today are not some high speed pentium and no one knows. I so wish our state had the vision to even be asking this question, and as publicly as Texas is doing online here.

Another comment was to keep the laptops in the upper grades ... oh I don't know when we will see that literacy and K-12 continuity can only happen when the K-3 years are enriched and empowered. Those laptops would satisfy the needs of early literacy programs for 10 years if they survive. The power of a current laptop exceeds most elementary needs for five to even ten years.

Actually, if we are lucky, the games and high end CDs will quickly require special systems and the real tools of education will be the majority of what will kids would put on the laptops.

If you take the leap today, your children will be far ahead of many others afraid to learn the hard way ... after all, that's why children master technology so fast compared to adults ... they are unafraid!

Responses Posted

Why "Up to date" matters William L. Rukeyser, February 16, 1999 (0)
Re: It is some of the thinking that is obsolete! null, February 15, 1999 (0)

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* Comments: > In reading some of the different discussions, there is a repeated a concern that the computers bought today will be obsolete in a couple of years. > As I am heading a recycling program, putting 386 and 486 computers to good use, it is a mistaken belief. The written word has progressed from hand-written to typeset to the very books you are looking at upgrading to electronic forms. All these forms are useful still today. We still use hand written pages as well as typeset books without pictures. The rage may be colored glossy textbooks, but they can never replace the words of Shakespeare or the feeling of a hand written personal note. > The modern computer rapidly developed to the graphical interface of today and that will not change so radically, no matter where the high speed processors go. The so called 'Obsolete 486' computers can surf the net and compete very well given a high speed modem and more memory, and at a very low cost. Even the 'Y2K' problem is not a big deal as long as you are willing to set the date and time in the new millenium once! How many servers on the net today are not some high speed pentium and no one knows. I so wish our state had the vision to even be asking this question, and as publicly as Texas is doing online here. > Another comment was to keep the laptops in the upper grades ... oh I don't know when we will see that literacy and K-12 continuity can only happen when the K-3 years are enriched and empowered. Those laptops would satisfy the needs of early literacy programs for 10 years if they survive. The power of a current laptop exceeds most elementary needs for five to even ten years. > Actually, if we are lucky, the games and high end CDs will quickly require special systems and the real tools of education will be the majority of what will kids would put on the laptops. > If you take the leap today, your children will be far ahead of many others afraid to learn the hard way ... after all, that's why children master technology so fast compared to adults ... they are unafraid!